The Same Jesus
Welcome everyone to our new sermon series. I am excited about it! My name is Chris Fluitt and this is Redemption Church of Plano, Tx.
Happy Easter – Jesus is alive
We celebrated Easter last Sunday. We celebrated an empty tomb. We celebrated how Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave.
There is something that has always bothered me about Easter Sunday. Now don’t get me wrong…
- I am thankful that there is one day of the year where I see people attend a church service who don’t normally attend…
- I am excited to see all the Facebook posts that say, “He Is Risen.”
- I think it is great that you can walk into any church anywhere on that day and hear the True Story of Jesus being alive after His death on the cross.
However, I have a real problem with the fact that we of Christian Faith aren’t as eager, or bold to celebrate the Resurrection with anyone on the Monday after Easter…
I have news for you today…
The Same Jesus is STILL Alive
The Same Jesus who called Mary’s name at the tomb… is still alive.
The Same Jesus who called for the disciples AND PETER… is still alive.
The Same Jesus who revealed himself to the disciples… showed them his hands… the same Jesus who showed his hands to an unbelieving Thomas… is still alive.
The Same Jesus who said “A new command I give you… as I have loved you, you should love one another…” That same Jesus is still alive.
The same Jesus who ascended into heaven is still alive.
We are a part of an ongoing story. The story of Jesus is not over because Jesus is VERY alive.
If you look in your Bible there are “red letters.” These letters colored with red ink let us know that Jesus spoke these words. We are used to seeing those “red letters” in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
When Jesus said “Peace be still” in Mark 4:39 those letters are red.
When Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” in John 14:6 those letters are in red.
When Jesus said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” in Luke 23:34 those letters are red.
We are not surprised to see red letters in the gospels because we expect to see an alive Jesus walking and talking and doing miracles.
…but did you know there are red letters outside the gospels?
After Jesus rose from the grave, He was on earth for 40 days before He ascended to heaven. He spoke many things to His disciples… Some of those words are recorded in Acts 1.
Acts 1:4 (NIV) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In Acts a man named Saul had an encounter with the very same Jesus. Look at these red letters…
Acts 9:4-5 (NIV) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Saul encountered the same Jesus in Acts 9. By the way, Saul goes by another name you might know… The Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul, for the rest of his life told people about the red letters he received from Jesus.
John the beloved, the disciple and apostle, the writer of the book of Revelation received some red letters while on the island of Patmos. John sees Jesus and He falls to the ground as though dead…, but Jesus speaks to him… Jesus puts his hand on him and says…
Revelation 1:8 (NIV) “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:18 (NIV) I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
The Same Jesus is STILL Alive
The SAME Jesus who spoke in the gospels, also spoke outside of the gospels, and the SAME Jesus still speaks.
You need to receive some red letters today. Do you want to hear from Jesus today? The SAME Jesus is still alive and He still speaks!
The Same Jesus is UNCHANGED
It is hard to find things that remain unchanged.
Have you ever seen an amazing talent try to perform well beyond their prime? They were so talented but, to quote basketball great Charles Barkley, “Father Time is undefeated.”
I mean even Coca-Cola has not remained unchanged.
It is hard to find anything that remains unchanged.
But Jesus…, The SAME Jesus remains unchanged.
In Mark 16 a group of women came to anoint the corpse of Jesus. They came to honor a dead body…
When we die we decompose… But not Jesus! Jesus is unchanged just like it was prophesied in Psalms.
Psalm 16:10 (NIV) because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
Instead of a decaying corpse, those believers encountered an unchanged Jesus.
The message of the early church was that the same Jesus was still alive and unchanged.
This is the first sermon ever preached in the Church of Jesus Christ. Peter said…
Acts 2:36 (KJV) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Paul when preaching to people who never knew about Jesus taught them this…
Romans 10:12 (KJV) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
The SAME Jesus is full of love, grace, and forgiveness…, whatever you need…; just call on His name!
Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Whatever Jesus was yesterday… He is today!
Whatever Jesus is today… He is FOREVER!
The Same Jesus is STILL Alive
The Same Jesus is UNCHANGED
The Same Jesus is RETURNING
You need to know that Jesus is returning.
Some of you have heard this before… well; let me tell you that we need to live like He is returning today.
Jesus is coming back!
Are you ready?
Are you living ready?
What if He came back right now?
(musician prompt)
In Acts 1 Jesus was speaking to His followers.
Acts 1:9-10 (NIV) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.
Acts 1:11 (NIV) “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Men of Galilee… People of Plano… Christians in DFW… Followers of Jesus in every nation… WHY DO YOU STAND HERE LOOKING AROUND… THIS SAME JESUS WILL COME BACK in the same way you have seen Him go to heaven… This SAME Jesus:
Is still alive… unchanged…, and He is returning.
Are you ready?
Do you believe?
Are you living ready?